HOUSTON, TX – DECEMBER 25: Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell (26) stretches before the football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Houston Texans on December 25, 2017 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Despite a report that stated the Kansas City Chiefs are interested in Le’Veon Bell, the league’s best offense from a year ago won’t be adding him.
Le’Veon Bell has a bevy of interested teams lining up for his services. The Kansas City Chiefs are not, and will not be one of them.
My understanding of the situation is that the Chiefs have zero interest in signing Bell due to both cost and need.
Bell, 27, is going to cash in somewhere as one of the league’s highest-paid backs after notching more than 2,500 rushing yards over 2016 and ’17 before sitting out last season with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
As for Kansas City, it is going to use its limited cap space to pursue help on the defensive side of the ball. Last year, the Chiefs employed the highest-scoring offense in the NFL but ranked 31st defensively.
With $25 million of cap space available, Kansas City has concrete steps in place for free agency. For starters, they will tag outside linebacker Dee Ford and pay for almost all of it by either trading or releasing fellow outside linebacker Justin Houston, as first reported by FanSided. Houston recorded 11 sacks last season including the playoffs, but would save the Chiefs $14 million against the cap if cut or traded.
From there, the team is hoping to add secondary help to replace the expected departures of cornerbacks Steven Nelson and Orlando Scandrick. Kendall Fuller remains a valuable piece on the back end, but Kansas City needs another starting-caliber corner. At safety, Landon Collins will be a target if the New York Giants don’t place the franchise tag on him, something that appears unlikely to happen. However, Collins will have a litany of suitors.
Free agency opens on March 11 in the tampered period before teams can officially sign outside free agents on March 13.